2026 Fall JAM 1

Stephen Kidd

Race Report Fall Series JAM 1 Thursday, August 20 Once again boats floated around on the mirror-like Lac Deschênes. But then, a nice 10-knot breeze came up about 6:30 from the northeast. Race bosun Luke bombed the RC boat over to the Ontario side and set a T-course, a triangle and a "sausage". We had a good start, trying to push up Yulara, who needed to push up Azura heading for the RC boat. "Up Yulara!" "I can't. Azura's there." "You need to push Azura up. Up Azura!" Apex was below us but, fortunately, not pushing us up. When I realized she might, and that we were a few seconds too early to the line, I had room to bear off just enough to cross right at the start signal. The other two boats above us also crossed safely. It was a good (and maybe lucky) start, but we got dirty air. We tacked right as soon as we could and held our own with the fleet most of the race, crisscrossing competitors on the first upwind leg. Rounding marks, we stayed upwind of other boats and regained speed. I had invited Dorothy to helm, but she first wanted to learn foredeck from Sensei Salim. After the first triangle, Dorothy took over, quickly getting used to the wheel and how TQ takes a few seconds to respond. On the last line to the windward mark, when I thought we wouldn't make it and should tack, she insisted we wait and see. The nerve! But yes, the wind was shifty, and we got closer to making the mark. But make it, we did! Dorothy not only helmed for the first time but also shot her first mark! Beautiful! 🎊 Salim and Jeff set the pole for the final downwind leg, and the wind dropped from anywhere between 2 and 5 knots. Hard for TQ to maintain speed. But we weren't the last boat over the line! Shoutout to Iggy - first time on the mainsail - who was diligent at it and caught on to it well, and was nimble with the traveller. 🎉👏